diff --git a/configuration/configuration.go b/configuration/configuration.go
index 0afcd015bf3..3593f4111b7 100644
--- a/configuration/configuration.go
+++ b/configuration/configuration.go
@@ -136,9 +136,9 @@ func GetDefaultBuiltinLibrariesDir() string {
 	return filepath.Join(getDefaultArduinoDataDir(), "libraries")
 }
 
-// FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory returns the config file path using the
+// FindConfigFileInArgs returns the config file path using the
 // argument '--config-file' (if specified) or looking in the current working dir
-func FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory(args []string) string {
+func FindConfigFileInArgs(args []string) string {
 	// Look for '--config-file' argument
 	for i, arg := range args {
 		if arg == "--config-file" {
@@ -147,23 +147,5 @@ func FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory(args []string) string {
 			}
 		}
 	}
-
-	// Look into current working directory
-	if cwd, err := paths.Getwd(); err != nil {
-		return ""
-	} else if configFile := searchConfigTree(cwd); configFile != nil {
-		return configFile.Join("arduino-cli.yaml").String()
-	}
 	return ""
 }
-
-func searchConfigTree(cwd *paths.Path) *paths.Path {
-	// go back up to root and search for the config file
-	for _, path := range cwd.Parents() {
-		if path.Join("arduino-cli.yaml").Exist() {
-			return path
-		}
-	}
-
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/configuration/configuration_test.go b/configuration/configuration_test.go
index 880b40a32f2..ce879e0c8d3 100644
--- a/configuration/configuration_test.go
+++ b/configuration/configuration_test.go
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ import (
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 
-	paths "github.com/arduino/go-paths-helper"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
 
@@ -39,45 +38,6 @@ func tmpDirOrDie() string {
 	return dir
 }
 
-func TestSearchConfigTreeNotFound(t *testing.T) {
-	tmp := tmpDirOrDie()
-	require.Empty(t, searchConfigTree(paths.New(tmp)))
-}
-
-func TestSearchConfigTreeSameFolder(t *testing.T) {
-	tmp := tmpDirOrDie()
-	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
-	_, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(tmp, "arduino-cli.yaml"))
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, tmp, searchConfigTree(paths.New(tmp)).String())
-}
-
-func TestSearchConfigTreeInParent(t *testing.T) {
-	tmp := tmpDirOrDie()
-	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
-	target := filepath.Join(tmp, "foo", "bar")
-	err := os.MkdirAll(target, os.ModePerm)
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	_, err = os.Create(filepath.Join(tmp, "arduino-cli.yaml"))
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, tmp, searchConfigTree(paths.New(target)).String())
-}
-
-var result *paths.Path
-
-func BenchmarkSearchConfigTree(b *testing.B) {
-	tmp := tmpDirOrDie()
-	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
-	target := filepath.Join(tmp, "foo", "bar", "baz")
-	os.MkdirAll(target, os.ModePerm)
-
-	var s *paths.Path
-	for n := 0; n < b.N; n++ {
-		s = searchConfigTree(paths.New(target))
-	}
-	result = s
-}
-
 func TestInit(t *testing.T) {
 	tmp := tmpDirOrDie()
 	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
@@ -100,38 +60,15 @@ func TestInit(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestFindConfigFile(t *testing.T) {
-	configFile := FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory([]string{"--config-file"})
+	configFile := FindConfigFileInArgs([]string{"--config-file"})
 	require.Equal(t, "", configFile)
 
-	configFile = FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory([]string{"--config-file", "some/path/to/config"})
+	configFile = FindConfigFileInArgs([]string{"--config-file", "some/path/to/config"})
 	require.Equal(t, "some/path/to/config", configFile)
 
-	configFile = FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory([]string{"--config-file", "some/path/to/config/arduino-cli.yaml"})
+	configFile = FindConfigFileInArgs([]string{"--config-file", "some/path/to/config/arduino-cli.yaml"})
 	require.Equal(t, "some/path/to/config/arduino-cli.yaml", configFile)
 
-	configFile = FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory([]string{})
+	configFile = FindConfigFileInArgs([]string{})
 	require.Equal(t, "", configFile)
-
-	// Create temporary directories
-	tmp := tmpDirOrDie()
-	defer os.RemoveAll(tmp)
-	target := filepath.Join(tmp, "foo", "bar", "baz")
-	os.MkdirAll(target, os.ModePerm)
-	require.Nil(t, os.Chdir(target))
-
-	// Create a config file
-	f, err := os.Create(filepath.Join(target, "..", "..", "arduino-cli.yaml"))
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	f.Close()
-
-	configFile = FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory([]string{})
-	require.Equal(t, filepath.Join(tmp, "foo", "arduino-cli.yaml"), configFile)
-
-	// Create another config file
-	f, err = os.Create(filepath.Join(target, "arduino-cli.yaml"))
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-	f.Close()
-
-	configFile = FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory([]string{})
-	require.Equal(t, filepath.Join(target, "arduino-cli.yaml"), configFile)
 }
diff --git a/docs/UPGRADING.md b/docs/UPGRADING.md
index 0860f5a4a01..819882bbb68 100644
--- a/docs/UPGRADING.md
+++ b/docs/UPGRADING.md
@@ -2,6 +2,11 @@
 
 Here you can find a list of migration guides to handle breaking changes between releases of the CLI.
 
+## 0.32.0
+
+Configuration file lookup in current working directory and its parents is dropped. The command line flag `--config-file`
+must be specified to use an alternative configuration file from the one in the data directory.
+
 ## 0.31.0
 
 ### Added `post_install` script support for tools
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index b03cbaa3e25..83a8662acd7 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -116,8 +116,6 @@ The configuration file must be named `arduino-cli`, with the appropriate file ex
 Configuration files in the following locations are recognized by Arduino CLI:
 
 1. Location specified by the [`--config-file`][arduino cli command reference] command line flag
-1. Current working directory
-1. Any parent directory of the current working directory (more immediate parents having higher precedence)
 1. Arduino CLI data directory (as configured by `directories.data`)
 
 If multiple configuration files are present, the one highest on the above list is used. Configuration files are not
diff --git a/docsgen/main.go b/docsgen/main.go
index aaac2d3bd0e..5bb4a3fcc4b 100644
--- a/docsgen/main.go
+++ b/docsgen/main.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func main() {
 
 	os.MkdirAll(os.Args[1], 0755) // Create the output folder if it doesn't already exist
 
-	configuration.Settings = configuration.Init(configuration.FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory(os.Args))
+	configuration.Settings = configuration.Init(configuration.FindConfigFileInArgs(os.Args))
 	cli := cli.NewCommand()
 	cli.DisableAutoGenTag = true // Disable addition of auto-generated date stamp
 	err := doc.GenMarkdownTree(cli, os.Args[1])
diff --git a/internal/integrationtest/compile_1/compile_test.go b/internal/integrationtest/compile_1/compile_test.go
index 998fe7c0483..174d8f1eaf9 100644
--- a/internal/integrationtest/compile_1/compile_test.go
+++ b/internal/integrationtest/compile_1/compile_test.go
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ func compileWithExportBinariesConfig(t *testing.T, env *integrationtest.Environm
 	defer cli.WorkingDir().Join("arduino-cli.yaml").Remove()
 
 	// Test if arduino-cli config file written in the previous run has the `always_export_binaries` flag set.
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Contains(t, stdout, `
 		{
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ func compileWithExportBinariesConfig(t *testing.T, env *integrationtest.Environm
 		}`)
 
 	// Test compilation with export binaries env var set
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("compile", "-b", fqbn, sketchPath.String())
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("compile", "-b", fqbn, "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml", sketchPath.String())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.DirExists(t, sketchPath.Join("build").String())
 
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ func compileWithInvalidUrl(t *testing.T, env *integrationtest.Environment, cli *
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	defer cli.WorkingDir().Join("arduino-cli.yaml").Remove()
 
-	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("compile", "-b", fqbn, sketchPath.String())
+	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("compile", "-b", fqbn, "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml", sketchPath.String())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "Error initializing instance: Loading index file: loading json index file")
 	expectedIndexfile := cli.DataDir().Join("package_example_index.json")
@@ -813,10 +813,10 @@ func TestCompileWithCustomLibraries(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Init the environment explicitly
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("update")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("update", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("core", "install", "esp8266:esp8266")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("core", "install", "esp8266:esp8266", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	sketchName := "sketch_with_multiple_custom_libraries"
@@ -825,7 +825,12 @@ func TestCompileWithCustomLibraries(t *testing.T) {
 
 	firstLib := sketchPath.Join("libraries1")
 	secondLib := sketchPath.Join("libraries2")
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("compile", "--libraries", firstLib.String(), "--libraries", secondLib.String(), "-b", fqbn, sketchPath.String())
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("compile", "--libraries",
+		firstLib.String(),
+		"--libraries", secondLib.String(),
+		"-b", fqbn,
+		"--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml",
+		sketchPath.String())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
@@ -839,18 +844,18 @@ func TestCompileWithArchivesAndLongPaths(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Init the environment explicitly
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("update")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("update", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Install core to compile
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("core", "install", "esp8266:esp8266@2.7.4")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("core", "install", "esp8266:esp8266@2.7.4", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Install test library
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "ArduinoIoTCloud")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "ArduinoIoTCloud", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("lib", "examples", "ArduinoIoTCloud", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("lib", "examples", "ArduinoIoTCloud", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	var libOutput []map[string]interface{}
 	err = json.Unmarshal(stdout, &libOutput)
@@ -858,7 +863,7 @@ func TestCompileWithArchivesAndLongPaths(t *testing.T) {
 	sketchPath := paths.New(libOutput[0]["library"].(map[string]interface{})["install_dir"].(string))
 	sketchPath = sketchPath.Join("examples", "ArduinoIoTCloud-Advanced")
 
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("compile", "-b", "esp8266:esp8266:huzzah", sketchPath.String())
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("compile", "-b", "esp8266:esp8266:huzzah", sketchPath.String(), "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
@@ -908,16 +913,19 @@ func TestCompileWithFullyPrecompiledLibrary(t *testing.T) {
 	// https://arduino.github.io/arduino-cli/latest/library-specification/#precompiled-binaries
 	wd, err := paths.Getwd()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", wd.Parent().Join("testdata", "Arduino_TensorFlowLite-2.1.0-ALPHA-precompiled.zip").String())
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install",
+		"--zip-path", wd.Parent().Join("testdata", "Arduino_TensorFlowLite-2.1.0-ALPHA-precompiled.zip").String(),
+		"--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml",
+	)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	sketchFolder := cli.SketchbookDir().Join("libraries", "Arduino_TensorFlowLite", "examples", "hello_world")
 
 	// Install example dependency
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "Arduino_LSM9DS1")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "Arduino_LSM9DS1", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Compile and verify dependencies detection for fully precompiled library is skipped
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("compile", "-b", fqbn, sketchFolder.String(), "-v")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("compile", "-b", fqbn, "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml", sketchFolder.String(), "-v")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stdout), "Skipping dependencies detection for precompiled library Arduino_TensorFlowLite")
 }
diff --git a/internal/integrationtest/config/config_test.go b/internal/integrationtest/config/config_test.go
index b9f96878feb..ab098960498 100644
--- a/internal/integrationtest/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/integrationtest/config/config_test.go
@@ -288,19 +288,19 @@ func TestAddRemoveSetDeleteOnUnexistingKey(t *testing.T) {
 	_, _, err := cli.Run("config", "init", "--dest-dir", ".")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("config", "add", "some.key", "some_value")
+	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("config", "add", "some.key", "some_value", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "Settings key doesn't exist")
 
-	_, stderr, err = cli.Run("config", "remove", "some.key", "some_value")
+	_, stderr, err = cli.Run("config", "remove", "some.key", "some_value", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "Settings key doesn't exist")
 
-	_, stderr, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "some.key", "some_value")
+	_, stderr, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "some.key", "some_value", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "Settings key doesn't exist")
 
-	_, stderr, err = cli.Run("config", "delete", "some.key")
+	_, stderr, err = cli.Run("config", "delete", "some.key", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "Settings key doesn't exist")
 }
@@ -314,26 +314,28 @@ func TestAddSingleArgument(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies no additional urls are present
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[]")
 
 	// Adds one URL
 	url := "https://example.com"
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", url)
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", url, "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies URL has been saved
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[\"https://example.com\"]")
 
 	// Adds the same URL (should not error)
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", url)
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add",
+		"board_manager.additional_urls", url,
+		"--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies a second copy has NOT been added
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[\"https://example.com\"]")
 }
@@ -347,7 +349,7 @@ func TestAddMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies no additional urls are present
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[]")
 
@@ -356,11 +358,13 @@ func TestAddMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 		"https://example.com/package_example_index.json",
 		"https://example.com/yet_another_package_example_index.json",
 	}
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1])
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add",
+		"board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1],
+		"--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies URL has been saved
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls | length", "2")
 	requirejson.Contains(t, stdout, `
@@ -374,11 +378,11 @@ func TestAddMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 	}`)
 
 	// Adds both the same URLs a second time
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1])
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1], "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies no change in result array
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls | length", "2")
 	requirejson.Contains(t, stdout, `
@@ -397,11 +401,11 @@ func TestAddMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 		"https://example.com/a_third_package_example_index.json",
 		"https://example.com/yet_another_package_example_index.json",
 	}
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1], urls[2])
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1], urls[2], "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies URL has been saved
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls | length", "3")
 	requirejson.Contains(t, stdout, `
@@ -425,17 +429,17 @@ func TestAddOnUnsupportedKey(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default value
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".daemon | .port", "\"50051\"")
 
 	// Tries and fails to add a new item
-	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("config", "add", "daemon.port", "50000")
+	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("config", "add", "daemon.port", "50000", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "The key 'daemon.port' is not a list of items, can't add to it.\nMaybe use 'config set'?")
 
 	// Verifies value is not changed
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".daemon | .port", "\"50051\"")
 }
@@ -453,11 +457,11 @@ func TestRemoveSingleArgument(t *testing.T) {
 		"https://example.com/package_example_index.json",
 		"https://example.com/yet_another_package_example_index.json",
 	}
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1])
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1], "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default state
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls | length", "2")
 	requirejson.Contains(t, stdout, `
@@ -471,11 +475,11 @@ func TestRemoveSingleArgument(t *testing.T) {
 	}`)
 
 	// Remove first URL
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "remove", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0])
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "remove", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies URLs has been removed
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[\"https://example.com/yet_another_package_example_index.json\"]")
 }
@@ -493,11 +497,11 @@ func TestRemoveMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 		"https://example.com/package_example_index.json",
 		"https://example.com/yet_another_package_example_index.json",
 	}
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1])
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1], "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default state
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls | length", "2")
 	requirejson.Contains(t, stdout, `
@@ -511,11 +515,11 @@ func TestRemoveMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 	}`)
 
 	// Remove all URLs
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "remove", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1])
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "remove", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1], "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies all URLs have been removed
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[]")
 }
@@ -529,17 +533,17 @@ func TestRemoveOnUnsupportedKey(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default value
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".daemon | .port", "\"50051\"")
 
 	// Tries and fails to remove an item
-	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("config", "remove", "daemon.port", "50051")
+	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("config", "remove", "daemon.port", "50051", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "The key 'daemon.port' is not a list of items, can't remove from it.\nMaybe use 'config delete'?")
 
 	// Verifies value is not changed
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".daemon | .port", "\"50051\"")
 }
@@ -553,27 +557,27 @@ func TestSetSliceWithSingleArgument(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default state
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[]")
 
 	// Set an URL in the list
 	url := "https://example.com/package_example_index.json"
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "board_manager.additional_urls", url)
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "board_manager.additional_urls", url, "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies value is changed
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[\"https://example.com/package_example_index.json\"]")
 
 	// Set an URL in the list
 	url = "https://example.com/yet_another_package_example_index.json"
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "board_manager.additional_urls", url)
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "board_manager.additional_urls", url, "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies value is changed
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[\"https://example.com/yet_another_package_example_index.json\"]")
 }
@@ -587,7 +591,7 @@ func TestSetSliceWithMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default state
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[]")
 
@@ -596,11 +600,11 @@ func TestSetSliceWithMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 		"https://example.com/first_package_index.json",
 		"https://example.com/second_package_index.json",
 	}
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1])
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1], "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies value is changed
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls | length", "2")
 	requirejson.Contains(t, stdout, `
@@ -618,11 +622,11 @@ func TestSetSliceWithMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 		"https://example.com/third_package_index.json",
 		"https://example.com/fourth_package_index.json",
 	}
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1])
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1], "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies previous value is overwritten
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls | length", "2")
 	requirejson.Contains(t, stdout, `
@@ -645,11 +649,14 @@ func TestSetSliceWithMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 		"https://example.com/sixth_package_index.json",
 		"https://example.com/first_package_index.json",
 	}
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1], urls[2], urls[3], urls[4], urls[5], urls[6])
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config",
+		"set",
+		"board_manager.additional_urls", urls[0], urls[1], urls[2], urls[3], urls[4], urls[5], urls[6],
+		"--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies all unique values exist in config
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls | length", "4")
 	requirejson.Contains(t, stdout, `
@@ -674,16 +681,16 @@ func TestSetStringWithSingleArgument(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default state
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".logging | .level", "\"info\"")
 
 	// Changes value
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "logging.level", "trace")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "logging.level", "trace", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies value is changed
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".logging | .level", "\"trace\"")
 }
@@ -697,7 +704,7 @@ func TestSetStringWithMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default state
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".logging | .level", "\"info\"")
 
@@ -716,16 +723,16 @@ func TestSetBoolWithSingleArgument(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default state
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".library | .enable_unsafe_install", "false")
 
 	// Changes value
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "library.enable_unsafe_install", "true")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "set", "library.enable_unsafe_install", "true", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies value is changed
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".library | .enable_unsafe_install", "true")
 }
@@ -739,12 +746,12 @@ func TestSetBoolWithMultipleArguments(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default state
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".library | .enable_unsafe_install", "false")
 
 	// Changes value
-	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("config", "set", "library.enable_unsafe_install", "true", "foo")
+	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("config", "set", "library.enable_unsafe_install", "true", "foo", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "Can't set multiple values in key library.enable_unsafe_install")
 }
@@ -758,12 +765,12 @@ func TestDelete(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies default state
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".library | .enable_unsafe_install", "false")
 
 	// Delete config key
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "delete", "library.enable_unsafe_install")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "delete", "library.enable_unsafe_install", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies value is not found, we read directly from file instead of using
@@ -775,12 +782,12 @@ func TestDelete(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NotContains(t, configLines, "enable_unsafe_install")
 
 	// Verifies default state
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json")
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("config", "dump", "--format", "json", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	requirejson.Query(t, stdout, ".board_manager | .additional_urls", "[]")
 
 	// Delete config key and sub keys
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "delete", "board_manager")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "delete", "board_manager", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies value is not found, we read directly from file instead of using
diff --git a/internal/integrationtest/core/core_test.go b/internal/integrationtest/core/core_test.go
index ff522a714a5..9bb8b95c092 100644
--- a/internal/integrationtest/core/core_test.go
+++ b/internal/integrationtest/core/core_test.go
@@ -963,12 +963,12 @@ func TestCoreIndexWithoutChecksum(t *testing.T) {
 	_, _, err := cli.Run("config", "init", "--dest-dir", ".")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	url := "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/keyboardio/ArduinoCore-GD32-Keyboardio/ae5938af2f485910729e7d27aa233032a1cb4734/package_gd32_index.json" // noqa: E501
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", url)
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("config", "add", "board_manager.additional_urls", url, "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("core", "update-index")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("core", "update-index", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("core", "list", "--all")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("core", "list", "--all", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err) // this should not make the cli crash
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/integrationtest/lib/lib_test.go b/internal/integrationtest/lib/lib_test.go
index 8cbae1af5de..f1e14eac9c2 100644
--- a/internal/integrationtest/lib/lib_test.go
+++ b/internal/integrationtest/lib/lib_test.go
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@ func TestInstallWithGitUrl(t *testing.T) {
 	gitUrl := "https://github.com/arduino-libraries/WiFi101.git"
 
 	// Test git-url library install
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl)
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl, "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stdout), "--git-url and --zip-path flags allow installing untrusted files, use it at your own risk.")
 
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ func TestInstallWithGitUrl(t *testing.T) {
 	require.DirExists(t, libInstallDir.String())
 
 	// Reinstall library
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl)
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl, "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies library remains installed
@@ -652,16 +652,16 @@ func TestInstallWithGitUrlFragmentAsBranch(t *testing.T) {
 	gitUrl := "https://github.com/arduino-libraries/WiFi101.git"
 
 	// Test that a bad ref fails
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl+"#x-ref-does-not-exist")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl+"#x-ref-does-not-exist", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies library is installed in expected path
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl+"#0.16.0")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl+"#0.16.0", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.DirExists(t, libInstallDir.String())
 
 	// Reinstall library at an existing ref
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl+"#master")
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl+"#master", "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies library remains installed
@@ -1129,7 +1129,7 @@ func TestInstallZipLibWithMacosMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	zipPath, err := paths.New("..", "testdata", "fake-lib.zip").Abs()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	// Test zip-path install
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String())
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String(), "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stdout), "--git-url and --zip-path flags allow installing untrusted files, use it at your own risk.")
 
@@ -1139,7 +1139,9 @@ func TestInstallZipLibWithMacosMetadata(t *testing.T) {
 	require.FileExists(t, libInstallDir.Join("src", "fake-lib.h").String())
 
 	// Reinstall library
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String())
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install",
+		"--zip-path", zipPath.String(),
+		"--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies library remains installed
@@ -1165,7 +1167,7 @@ func TestInstallZipInvalidLibrary(t *testing.T) {
 	zipPath, err := paths.New("..", "testdata", "lib-without-header.zip").Abs()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	// Test zip-path install
-	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String())
+	_, stderr, err := cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String(), "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "library not valid")
 
@@ -1176,7 +1178,7 @@ func TestInstallZipInvalidLibrary(t *testing.T) {
 	zipPath, err = paths.New("..", "testdata", "lib-without-properties.zip").Abs()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	// Test zip-path install
-	_, stderr, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String())
+	_, stderr, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String(), "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "library not valid")
 }
@@ -1211,7 +1213,7 @@ func TestInstallGitInvalidLibrary(t *testing.T) {
 	// Verifies library is not already installed
 	require.NoDirExists(t, libInstallDir.String())
 
-	_, stderr, err := cli.RunWithCustomEnv(envVar, "lib", "install", "--git-url", repoDir.String())
+	_, stderr, err := cli.RunWithCustomEnv(envVar, "lib", "install", "--git-url", repoDir.String(), "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "library not valid")
 	require.NoDirExists(t, libInstallDir.String())
@@ -1237,7 +1239,7 @@ func TestInstallGitInvalidLibrary(t *testing.T) {
 	// Verifies library is not already installed
 	require.NoDirExists(t, libInstallDir.String())
 
-	_, stderr, err = cli.RunWithCustomEnv(envVar, "lib", "install", "--git-url", repoDir.String())
+	_, stderr, err = cli.RunWithCustomEnv(envVar, "lib", "install", "--git-url", repoDir.String(), "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stderr), "library not valid")
 	require.NoDirExists(t, libInstallDir.String())
@@ -1358,11 +1360,11 @@ func TestInstallGitUrlAndZipPathFlagsVisibility(t *testing.T) {
 	_, _, err = cli.RunWithCustomEnv(envVar, "config", "init", "--dest-dir", ".")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl)
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--git-url", gitUrl, "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stdout), "--git-url and --zip-path flags allow installing untrusted files, use it at your own risk.")
 
-	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String())
+	stdout, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String(), "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stdout), "--git-url and --zip-path flags allow installing untrusted files, use it at your own risk.")
 }
@@ -1389,7 +1391,7 @@ func TestInstallWithZipPath(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoDirExists(t, libInstallDir.String())
 
 	// Test zip-path install
-	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String())
+	stdout, _, err := cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String(), "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Contains(t, string(stdout), "--git-url and --zip-path flags allow installing untrusted files, use it at your own risk.")
 
@@ -1405,7 +1407,7 @@ func TestInstallWithZipPath(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Contains(t, files, libInstallDir.Join("README.adoc"))
 
 	// Reinstall library
-	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String())
+	_, _, err = cli.Run("lib", "install", "--zip-path", zipPath.String(), "--config-file", "arduino-cli.yaml")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// Verifies library remains installed
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 4063632a42d..55f139c5ca1 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func main() {
-	configuration.Settings = configuration.Init(configuration.FindConfigFileInArgsOrWorkingDirectory(os.Args))
+	configuration.Settings = configuration.Init(configuration.FindConfigFileInArgs(os.Args))
 	i18n.Init(configuration.Settings.GetString("locale"))
 	arduinoCmd := cli.NewCommand()
 	if err := arduinoCmd.Execute(); err != nil {